Patience, Cheap Market Could Help Steelers Land Justin Fields

Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed on the Pat McAfee Show Monday that the market for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields hasn’t been enticing as the Bears thought. Bears general manager Ryan Poles expected a deal would have been wrapped up before free agency, and that hasn’t come to fruition so far.

“I don’t think the market for him is as robust as the Bears and he had thought,” Schefter said. “They talked about hoping to move on from him if they’re comfortable with a quarterback in this draft by the start of free agency.”

Schefter noted that he still expects the Bears to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, which would leave Fields open for a trade. Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright believes a deal won’t be done until closer to the draft in the second wave of free agency.

“If they can find a taker, before the draft. After wave 1 of FA,” Allbright wrote on X after being asked about the timeline for Fields’ trade.

If Fields’ trade market continues to linger, Louis Riddick of ESPN thinks that bodes well for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“If the market’s as soft for Justin Fields as we all believe it is right now, he may fall right into (the Steelers) hands,” Riddick said. “What would be more Pittsburgh Steeler than that? Than for them to wait, stay true to the game as they see it and let it come to them. … I would bet on that happening.”

Former Steelers free safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark wonders if Omar Khan would make a big push for Fields, since Kenny Pickett wasn’t his draft pick.

“Omar Khan is going into his second year as the GM after he takes over for Kevin Colbert, so how does he put his imprint on this team? Kenny Pickett wasn’t his draft pick. Does he see a way to improve if Justin Fields isn’t traded for as the draft is near?” Clark said.

Asked specifically at the NFL Combine about potentially trading for Fields, Khan said that he would not get into specifics about the conversations he’s had around the league. Khan had the same answer when asked if the Steelers have an interest in Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson. Khan is not permitted to discuss players currently under contract to other teams, at any rate.

“I’m not gonna go into details about the conversations that we’ve had,” he said. “But like I mentioned earlier, I can tell you that I have an obligation to look at every avenue that’s out there to make us a better football team.”